Electric lamp holder for tubular lamps having pin contacts



T. CURZON ELECTRIC LAMP HOLDER FOR TUBULAR LAMPS HAVING PIN CONTACTS Filed Dec. 2, 1947 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 ELECTRIC LAMP HOLDERFOR TUBULAR LAMPS HAVING PIN CONTACTS Thomas Curzon, London, England, assignor to C. A. V. Limited, London, England Application December 2, 1947, Serial No. 789,315, In Great Britain December 2, 1946 Z ClaiIns.

1 This invention has for its object to provide improved holders for carrying tubular electric lamps, and particularly lamps of the gas-discharge type.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric lamp holder constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end View of the lamp holder with the cover in section, showing the position of the lamp pins when the lamp is in position;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the upper portion of the lamp holder taken on the line X-X of Figure 1.

For securing a tubular lamp in position in a housing, such as a shade or other fitting, a, pair of lamp holders are required, one for each end of the lamp. In one convenient manner of constructing each of such holders in accordance with the invention as illustrated in the drawings, a block of insulating material I is provided having a generally rectangular shape with a rounded top 2, the diameters of the latter being approximately the same as that of the spigot of the lamp. In the end face 3 of the block there are formed a pair of grooves or slots 4, these being parallel to each other and open towards the end 3 and also towards the top 2. The lower end of each groove 4 communicates with a bore 5 extending to the bottom of the block I, and containing a contact 6 loaded by a spring 1 and adapted to be connected through a terminal piece 8 to a current supply conductor. The terminal pieces 8 are threaded in enlargements at the lower ends of the bores 5 and are located in position by grub screws 9 which also serve to clamp the supply conductors within bores l formed in the terminal pieces.

The lamp is retained in position by means of a swinging metal cap ll pivoted to the block I at l2 and having a curved channel form as shown. This cap etxends beyond the face 3 of the block and is adapted to embrace one side of the lamp cap l3 as shown in Figure 1.: A fixing screw M for the block ihas its head accommodated in a recess I at the opposite end of the block and beneath the head is secured one end of an earthing strap I6 which extends over the top of the block and contacts the metal cap II when the latter is in position to engage the lamp. For holding the cap in this position the sides are formed with internal depressions I! which are adapted to snap over the corresponding projections which may be formed by the heads of rivets I la driven into the sides of the block I as shown in Figure 3, or in any other convenient manner.

Holders as above described may be made as separate components adapted to be secured to the lamp housing, or they may form integral parts of the housing. When mounting a lamp in position the retaining caps I on the two holders are first swung aside clear of the open ends of the grooves or slots 4 and the lamp is then inserted by movement parallel to itself, the lamp pins being introduced into the open ends of the slots until they engage the contacts 6. After the lamp has been placed in position the pivoted caps. II are returned to their operative position to engage the lam ends or caps i3 and hold the lamp securely with its pins l8 pressing against the spring loaded contacts in the holders. Accidental movement of either of the retaining caps from its operative position is prevented by the snap engagement of the depressions II. It is to be noted that the provision of the metal strap l6 provides a particularly simple and convenient means of earthing the metal retaining cap through the fixing screw l4.

It will be understood that the shape of the retaining caps ll may be widely varied if desired, thus for example the pivots therefor may be provided upon parallel side arms Which extend from a curved hood-like part adapted to embrace the lamp cap. Also other forms of catch or locking device for the caps may be provided.

By this invention, convenient and efiective holders for tubular lamps are provided in a very simple form.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.-A holder for one end of a tubular electric lamp, comprising in combination an insulating block having formed in it a pair of parallel slots, which are open at one pair of ends for the reception of terminal pins on the lamp end to be supported by the holder, a pair of contacts accessible through the slots in the block, springs whereby the contacts are loaded so that they can serve as resilient supports for the said pins after the latter have been introduced into the said slots, terminal pieces secured to the block and supporting the springs which also form electrical connections between the corresponding terminal pieces and contacts, a. retaining piece pivoted to the lblOCk and arranged to be swung over the open ends of the slots into and out of a service position in which it can serve by contact with the said lamp end to hold the said pins in electrical engagement with the said contacts, and interengageable parts on the retaining piece and block for releasably holding the said retaining piece in its service position.

2'. A holder as claimed in claim 1, in which 5 the pivoted retaining piece is made of metal and has associated' with it a metal earthing contact, the lattenbeing mounted on the insulating block so that the metal retaining piece when in its service position is in contact with the earthing :10

contact.

THOMAS CURZON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,174,773 Blood 1 Oct. 3, 1939 12,190,364 Liston 1.. iFeb 13, 1940 2,228,646 Summers Jan. 19, 1941 2,424,874 Beals July 29, 1947 2,426,022 Hodgkins Aug. 19, 194'! 

